Stenographic machines



Jan. 5, 1960 H. B. SMITH 2,919,780

STENOGRAPHIC MACHINES Filed Au 28, 1956 United States PatentO STENOGRAPI-HC MACHINES Howard B. Smith, Washington, D.C.

Application August 28, 1956, Serial No. 606,652

1 Claim. (Cl. 197-3) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in stenographic machines, and in particular the invention concerns itself with so-called stenotype or stenograph machines used for typing shorthand.

The principal object of the invention is to substantially improve the ease and speed of operation of such machines by facilitating lighter and shallower depression of the machine keys, this being effected by positioning the universal bar in close proximity to the type bars and platen of the machine rather than'in a relatively remote position under the key bars, as in machines of conventional construction. As such, the improved positioning permits the use of a substantially smaller and lighter universal bar biased by relatively lighter springs, to effect the lighter and shallower key depression as above mentioned.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of key bars of a novel configuration, having means for actuating the type bars and separate means for actuating the universal bar at a location adjacent the type bars and platen rather than at a remote position under the key bars.

Another important feature of the invention resides in positioning the universal bar on top of its actuating means of the key bars rather than under the latter, thus affording more space for paper supply usually contained under the key bars, or permitting the height of the machine to be substantially reduced if a conventional amount of paper is to be accommodated.

Some of the advantages of the invention resulting from the above outlined improvements reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier application Serial No. 522,447, filed July 18, 1955, now abandoned.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features-as may become apparent as this secification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a stenographic machine in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the universal bar, one of its supporting levers and extension means for actuating the paper feed mechanism.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, it should be explained that the same illustrate only the operating components of the machine with which the invention is concerned, the arrangement of all other com- 2,919,780 Patented Jan. 5, 1960 ponents being conventional and well known in the art so that a detailed explanation and illustration thereof herein is not believed to be necessary. 1

The frame of the machine is designated by the refer: ence numeral and is provided at one end thereof with a rotatable platen 11 which is rotated in a step-by-step manner by a conventional clutch assembly 12 disposed at the outside of the frame, as shown. A set of type bars 13, movable toward and away from the platen 11, are supported by a transverse support bar 14, the latter being movable vertically by conventional actuating mechanism (not shown) whereby the upper and lower type elements 13a and 13b on the type bars 13 may be selectively brought in typing alignment with the platen. The type bars 13 are pivotally connected as indicated at 15 to upwardly extending arms 16 of a set of cranks 17 rockably mounted on a shaft 18 which is journalled transversely in the frame 10 forwardly of the platen 11. The type bars 13 are urged to a retracted position from the platen 11 by a set of tension springs 19, connected at one end to apertured tabs 20 on the pivots 15, and anchored at the other end on upstanding pins 21 provided 1 keys 27 are depressed as indicated by the arrow 28, the

' lobes 24 of the key bars 25 urge the portions 23 of the cranks 17 upwardly as shown at 29 and the arms 16 of the cranks 17 slide the type bars 13 toward the platen 11, as indicated at 30, so that the type elements 13a or 13b make an impression on paper tape passing over the platen. The key bars 25, when not depressed, rest against the underside of a bank bar 31 secured to the machine frame 10 by suitable screws, one of which is shown at 32.

The means for actuating the aforementioned clutch 12 for rotating the platen 11 and advancing paper tape over the latter comprise, in accordance with conventional practice, a relatively long and heavy universal bar which underlies the key bars 25 in a plane adjacent the bank bar 31 and is operatively connected by a complex lever and link arrangement to the conventional actuating linkage 33, 34 of the clutch. Such actuating linkage also includes a contact roller 35 which, when pressed upwardly, as shown by the arrow 36, causes the links 33, 34 to become longitudinally aligned and impart a fraction-turn rotation to the clutch and platen. The roller 35 is mounted on a screw or pin 37 carried by the link 34 and the link 34 is pivotally attached at one end thereof to the frame 10 by a similar screw or pin 33. The linkage is returned to its initial position by a suitable spring 39 anchored to a pin 40 on the frame.

The present invention eliminates the'use of the long, heavy universal bar as above described and utilizes a universal bar 41 which is relatively short and light in weight, and is disposed in close proximity to the platen and type bars by being positioned under the cranks 17 between the shafts 18, 26 as is best shown in Figure 3, rather than under the key bars 25 as in conventional practice.

The universal bar 41 is provided at the ends thereof with a pair of levers 42 having apertures 43 therein whereby they are rockably mounted on the aforementioned shaft 26, the universal bar 41 itself resting on longitudinal projections or fingers 44 provided at the inner ends of the key bars 26 adjacent the lobes 24.

A lateral extension 45 is provided at the upper edge of a one of the levers 42 and projects outwardly to the side of the frame It at which point the extension is equipped with a longitudinally extending platform 46 having the aforementionedrroller 35 in contact therewith. Accordingly, when any one of the key bars 25 is depressed as shown at 23, the finger 44 thereof will raise the universal bar 41 as shown at v47 while the levers 32 rock on the shaft 26, and the extension platform 46 will press the roller'35 upwardly to actuate the clutch 12 through the linkage 33, 34. It will be noted that, if desired or necessary, the frame In may be recessed as shown at 48 to afiord clearance for movement of the extension 45.

Since the transverse span of the inner ends of the key bars 25 and'the fingers 44 is much less than the span of the usual divergent otttcr ends of the key bars Where the universal bar is customaril" positioned, the improved positioning of the universal bar permits a much shorter and lighter bar to be used. Moreover, with the shorter and lighter universal bar, the spring biasing the clutch linkage 33, 34; may be proportionat ly reduced in tension, thus correspondingly reducing the finger pressure and depth of depression used in operating the keys 2"].

The opposite side of the machine frame {not shown) is usually provided with mechanism for feeding the inking ribbon for the type elements 13a, 1%, which mechanism is also actuated by the movement of the universal bar. Thus, the universal bar lever at that side of the machine may also be provided with an extension such as that shown at 45, for actuat g the ribbon mechanism.

The paper tape passing over the platen 12 is usually stored in a tray, or the like, under the key bars 25 and when the universm oar is also positioned under the key bars, the amount of space available for paper storage is thus limited. in present invention, however, with the universal bar occupying a position upon the fingers 44 and under the cranks 17 as shown, affords a greater amount of space under the 1 siey bars for paper storage. On the other hand, if a conventional supply of paper is required, the height of the machine may be reduced accordingly.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred emhodfment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is:

in a stenographic machine, the combination of a rotatable platen, type bars movable toward and away from said platen, a first shaft parallel to and forwardly of the platen, bell cranks mounted on said first shaft, said bell cranks including forwardly extending arms and upwardly extending arms operatively connected to said type bars, a second shaft parallel to and forwardly of the first shaft, key bars mounted on said second shaft, extension fingers provided on said key bars, upwardly projecting lobes provided on the key bars adjacent said fingers and operatively engaging the forwardly extending arms of said cranks, a clutch for rotating said platen, actuating linkage connected to said clutch, an actuating roller provided on said linkage, a pair of soaccd levers pivotally mounted on said second shaft, a universal bar carried by said levers and resting on said fingers for actuation thereby, said universal bar being disposed between said first and second shafts in downwardly spaced relation from said cranks andsubstantially in the horizontal plane of said key bars, and an extension member rigid with said universal bar and engaging said roller whereby pivotal movement of the universal bar on said second shaft may be translated into rotation of said platen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

